Wells H.S. gets an A, Kennebunk High a B in state rankings

KENNEBUNK — The Maine Department of Education has released its second set of report cards, showing improvement by some local schools and drops by others.

Jennifer Feals

KENNEBUNK — The Maine Department of Education has released its second set of report cards, showing improvement by some local schools and drops by others.

This is the second year the state has compiled A through F letter grades for schools, based on math and reading proficiency, student growth and graduation rates. The grades are based on the 2012-13 school year.

Kennebunkport Consolidated School and Sea Road School both received A grades this year, an improvement from B grades at both schools last year.

Kennebunk High School, the Middle School of the Kennebunks, and Mildred L. Day School dropped to a B grade level from A's last year.

"We view the report cards as one of many indicators that help direct our work as we seek continuous improvement in our programs and practices. We're pleased that our schools continue to get A's and B's, but in the end, we know this is simply a snapshot in time of where our students are on a given day," said RSU 21 Superintendent Andrew Dolloff. "With one of the metrics of this report card being the improvement of those students who are in the lower quartile from the previous year, maintaining high grades every year will be difficult, as there will be less room for improvement. Still, our goal is to help every student reach proficiency at a minimum, and this report only helps to reinforce that focus."

Wells High School moved up to an A grade, from a B last year and Wells Elementary moved up from a C to a B grade. Wells Junior High School remained at a B level.

"I am very pleased with the performance of all of the schools within the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District," said Superintendent Ellen Schneider. "We have robust academic programs and dedicated, hard-working teachers and staff. We take pride in always striving to improve upon what we do in order to provide the best educational experience possible for our students."

Nearby Thornton Academy received a D, down from a C grade last year, while Thornton Academy Middle School received a B, the same grade as last year.

Kennebunk High School Principal Sue Cressey said the high school rankings provide a "snapshot."

"I know that so many good things are happening here," Cressey said. "The way I look at it, we have many, many measures and this is one measure. I know that our students are learning. The biggest thing I know is that when they go on to college and careers, they succeed. I think we're doing the right things. We can always improve and we'll keep trying to improve.

Cressey said KHS is just eight points away from receiving an A grade and that the area of needed improvement to again reach that score is in those students who are in the lowest 25 percent.

"The state looks at three-year averages of improvement. Especially when you have high numbers to start with and then you have to show improvement, that's where we didn't show enough improvement," she said. "Those students are now our current seniors. We've implemented a reading program and we've done literacy training across the curriculum. If anything, it validates that those were the right decisions."

Just weeks ago, Kennebunk High School was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as being among the top high schools in the state of Maine, ranked at fifth in the state. The high school moved up three spots, from being ranked number eight on the list in 2013.

"Two weeks ago we couldn't stop and rest on our laurels," Cressey said. "We have to keep moving forward and this is just one snapshot."

According to the Department of Education, 121 schools earned an A or B grade and 110 schools improved by at least one letter grade on their 2014 report card.

"I want to congratulate these Maine schools who have stepped up to put kids first and who have seen student outcomes and opportunities improve as a result," said Gov. Paul LePage in a press release. "Maine schools can be the best in the country and if they keep up this good work and the public holds them accountable to that, they will be."

The grading system was launched last year by the LePage administration, which believes that when parents and the public are informed and involved in schools, students benefit, the press release says.

Democrats criticized the plan to grade schools last year, saying it was punitive and wouldn't help struggling schools.

While she is happy with the grades schools in the Wells-Ogunquit district received, Schneider said she feels there is room for improvement in the reporting formula.

"I hope that the DOE is looking at this data closely to make sure that it does not portray some school systems unfairly. I also encourage the DOE to mirror the work that is being done in school systems around the state," Schneider said. "If we are all moving toward a proficiency-based model for teaching, learning and reporting — should the department not be using a proficiency-based report card that moves away from the traditional grading model?"

On the 2014 report cards, 40 elementary schools and 10 high schools earned an A, while 53 elementary schools and 18 high schools earned a B. Most Maine schools earned a C grade, which was also the overall state grade at both the elementary and high school level. The state's high school point score went up slightly as a result of proficiency and graduation rate gains, though the gap between the percentage of students who graduate and those who are actually proficient widened to 38 percent.

"Today, many Maine school communities deserve to take great pride in their outstanding performance and progress, which the grading system has brought to light," said Department of Education Commissioner Jim Rier. "Across the state and at both A and F schools, the dedication of teachers and the care they are taking to ensure every child is successful is improving outcomes and the lives of our students. Now that the grades are out, we encourage the public to celebrate where their schools showed improvement and join us in supporting them where there are opportunities for improvement."

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